Month: September 2008

The Study of Evangelism

Posted on September 29, 2008

There are a lot of useless books on the topics of evangelism and mission. For starters, a lot of them divorce evangelism from mission; evangelism is reduced to a method or project, effectively subtracting narrow gospel proclamation from the broad path of mission. We need a whole gospel for whole mission. We need deeper philosophical, theological, and practical reflection on the practice of evangelism within the broader context of mission. The Study of Evangelism: A Practice of the Missional Church delivers.

This book is a collection of essays written by top missiologists, theologians, and practitioners such as: David Bosch, Carl Braaten, Walter Brueggemann, Darrell Guder, George Hunsberger, Lesslie Newbigin, Ron Sider, John Stott, and Hwa Yung.

Six propositions guided their selection of essays and articles for this book. The propositions alone are worth the book (emphasis added):

  1. Evangelism is a vital part of something larger than itself, namely the missio Dei.
  2. Evangelism is a process more than an event.
  3. Evangelism is concerned with discipling people in Christ.
  4. Evangelism is oriented toward the reign of God.
  5. Evangelism is a missional practice of the whole people of God.
  6. Evangelism is inescapably contextual.

Edwards and Lewis Quotes from Sunday

Posted on September 29, 2008

On Sunday I referred to the work of C.S Lewis and Jonathan Edwards in a sermon called Gospel Growth. Edwards helped us understand the nature of faith via the analogy of honey. Lewis helped us understand love. I talked about love in terms of its propensity to sacrifice and to give, cruciform and Gift love. Lewis is the one that developed Gift-love. Here are where those quotes came from:

C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Gift-love is that which motivates a man to spend his days labouring for an income that he may store away for his children, with great possibility of him never seeing the benefits thereof. Love can only be known in the actions it prompts, as seen in the gift of His Son. This was not an emotional love, but an efficacious love, that originated with Love itself an act of the will, deliberate and undeserved.

Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections, IV

There is a distinction to be made between a mere notional understanding wherein the mind only beholds things in the exercise of a speculative faculty; and the sense of the heart, wherein the mind does not only speculate and behold, but relishes and feels. That sort of knowledge, by which a man has a sensible perception of amiableness and loathsomeness, or of sweetness and nauseousness, is not just the same sort of knowledge with that by which he knows what a triangle is, and what a square is. The one is mere speculative knowledge, the other sensible knowledge, in which more than the mere intellect is concerned; the heart is the proper subject of it, or the soul, as a being that not only beholds, but has inclination, and is pleased or displeased. And yet there is the nature of instruction in it; as he that has perceived the sweet taste of honey, knows much more about it, than he who has only looked upon, and felt of it.

Various Books on Pastoring

Posted on September 29, 2008

Alexander Strauch, Minister of Mercy: The New Testament Deacon

A reliable guide to understanding the biblical qualifications and expectations of the role of deacon. Strauch’s Biblical Eldership and Study Guide are also very helpful in working out functional eldership.

Mark Driscoll, On Church Leadership

One of the best concise treatments of what the Bible has to say about Elders, Deacons, and Members. See also John Piper’s resources on Elders and Deacons.

William Perkins, The Art of Prophesying

An refreshingly biblical read on preaching from an old Puritan voice.

David Powlison, Speaking the Truth in Love

I can’t get enough of Powlison, a biblical counselor that pushes truth and grace through everything. He is editor of the Journal of Biblical Counseling, which contains a goldmine of pastoral wisdom for just about every occasion. He challenges and renews my soul.